Reviewing the game-day predictions: Maryland-Virginia

Running down the game-day picks after Virginia’s 31-13 defeat of Maryland …

1. Danny O’Brien will start at quarterback.

SEE RELATED:

CORRECT. O’Brien made his first start since Oct. 8 and played most of the day. He was lifted early in the second quarter in what coach Randy Edsall said was a planned decision. He later returned and was relieved again after throwing an interception. He was 16 of 36 for 241 yards and two interceptions.

2. Virginia’s Perry Jones will run for 100 yards.

CORRECT. He did so in the first half, collecting 100 yards on the button on 10 rushing attempts. Jones wasn’t quite so effective after the break, but still had 22 carries for 139 yards and two scores.

3. Justin Gilbert will play in the first half.

CORRECT. It seemed at times that Gilbert was C.J. Brown’s personal right guard. Gilbert entered in place of Josh Cary on Maryland’s first series of the second quarter, and also logged time in the second half (including when Brown relieved O’Brien).

4. Virginia will start a drive after a Maryland kickoff at its 40-yard line or better.

CORRECT. It took 10 seconds for this prediction to come true. Khalek Shepherd returned the opening kickoff to the Maryland 47. On the next play, Jones scored to give Virginia the lead.

5. Maryland will win … or maybe it’s Virginia will lose.

INCORRECT. Good Virginia showed up … for about the last 35 minutes or so. It was more than enough to dispatch the Terps, who yielded 527 total yards to the Cavaliers. Maryland, meanwhile, managed only six first downs in the final 34 minutes.